Confused about all this presidental election mess? You're not alone. We'll give you the straight scoop on how it actually happens. You can decide the morality issues of it all for yourself. Our forefathers would roll over in their graves to see such a political, corrupted mess. (A topic for another day.) This should overwhelm your brain for a while. Go ahead, sit back, and enjoy the info. It should be about as much fun as going to the dentist without novicane! Happy Reading.
Step 1: The Kickoff of the Primaries. What actually are primaries? We'll tell you. Primaries are preliminary elections that narrow the choices of candidates for the final presidential vote. Although voters choose whom they would like to see in the Presidency, their vote is diluted through the use of delegates.
Everyone really wants to know the answer to this next question... What the heck are Delegates?
Step 2 : The Delegates are "everyday citizens" (yeah, right) associated with political parties. Candidates who win from state to state earn a certain number of delegates, who are then required to vote for that particular candidate at the party convention, where the final presidential nominee is chosen. The number of delegates to be awarded the winning candidate in each party depends on the regulations of each state. Each are obviously different.
Some states use the Winner-Take-All method, where the losing primary candidate receives no delegates, even if he lost the race in that state by one percentage point.
Other states use a Proportional system awarded on the percentage of votes each candidate earned. Most delegates (varying by state) sign a pledge that they will vote at the party convention for the candidate they represent.
Step 3: Caucuses are less formal primaries, and developed in highly rural states. Voters attend regional state meetings where representatives of the candidates stump before voters, meaning they make speeches and try to sell the people on their candidates. Traditionally in days of old, voters would vote by standing behind the representative of their choice. Today, ballots are used - caucuses are generally less secretive and more public than formal primaries. The votes count in the same way as those from primaries and delegates are awarded to winning candidates.
The primaries were actually a 20th century invention, and weren't really all bad. Before the turn of the century, voters had no say in whom would be a political party’s representative for the presidential race. Party "bosses" were the ones who determined who would lead up the party. Gradually, states adopted the primary system, in order to encourage more direct public influence in the voting process, but delegates were never required to vote for the candidate they represented. Well into the mid-20th century, delegates' votes were bartered at the conventions among party bosses, rendering the public vote pointless.
And then, there was Watergate. As the scandal broke out into a frenzy, Americans became disenchanted with the insulated party politics and demanded a more "open system." Interestingly enough, the constitution had no guidelines for the direction of primaries, leaving the particulars up to the political parties. So, the major political parties have developed a primary system that supports their interests, but is also sensitive to voters. In essence, the popular vote in primaries and caucuses only guarantees which candidates will most likely carry the nomination for their particular party. But everything can change at the party conventions.
Step 4: Party conventions are a forum where power brokers would barter potential votes of delegates in return for favors. As technology has progressed, the conventions are more open - televised, mediaized, videoed, etc. As a result, vote "buying" has decreased... a little bit. At least, in front of the cameras. But as most of us know, politics is a dirty and dishonest business. Often times, politicians are referred to as ugly actors who couldn't make it in Hollywood! We suppose that depends on who you ask!
Ultimately, today's party conventions are mainly a formal display of which candidate won the right to represent the party in the presidential elections. Officially, delegates assemble at the convention to cast their votes. For the first vote, most delegates will vote for whom they represent, according to the pledge they took. Customarily after the first vote, the one candidate who is "overwhelmingly chosen" in the public vote, is usually the one chosen in the delegate vote, and becomes "the official presidential nominee." But this isn't always the case.
Sometimes, the popular vote is very close. Due to the delegate systems that differ state by state, things can change. The first delegate vote might not yield a clear majority. In this case, a second delegate vote will be taken. During the second vote, the delegates are now allowed to vote their conscience, meaning they are not bound to vote for the candidate whom they officially represent. Such conscience voting can dramatically alter the nomination process granting the party mantle to the candidate that did not receive the most popular votes. Bizarre, huh?
Most of the time, party convention votes reflect the public’s choice. All established parties (Republican, Democrat, Green, Reform, Independent, etc.) may hold conventions, but the two major parties – Republican and Democrat – obviously receive the most press coverage due to the power they hold.
Step 5: Campaigning. After the presidential nominees for each party have been selected, the campaigning begins. Nominees traverse the countryside, selling their platform and trying to convince voters to elect them as President. Your television is taken over by this orderal for the better part of a year, this making a person want to hit their head against a thick wall and commit suicide!
During this period, debates are held to bring the candidates together to discuss relevant issues (if you can call it that). Various organizations come in and sponsor debates.
The sponsoring organization chooses who is invited to participate in debates, but the rules governing the debate are hashed out among participating candidates. There is no law stipulating that candidates must do a certain number of debates. The candidates are free to choose to debate. If a candidate is far ahead in the polls, he may choose to do one debate for good measure, but not a second to avoid any disasters on public television, which could hurt his candidacy.
Election Day is always held on the first Tuesday, after the first Monday in November. The ballot is supposed to contain every candidate from every party, plus candidates for local state elections (although it doesn't always happen that way). Voters, in some states, are restricted to choose only candidates in their party during the primaries, the final election is completely open.
Voters (if they can stomach it) vote for whom they prefer to see as the President. But wait... there's yet another fly in the ointment. Our vote is now diluted with...
Step 6: The (Beloved) Electoral College - The epitome of "fairness." Much like delegates, electors are chosen within each state to elect the president and vice-president. The number of electors for each state is equal to the number of representatives a state has in both houses of Congress.
How did the college come to be? Here it is: The Founding Fathers invented the Electoral College at a time when our country didn't have a strong National Consensus. Back then, the majority of Americans were illiterate farmers who lived in remote areas. The chances were high that regional third parties would unreasonably split the votes. If a candidate gained a majority in the Electoral College, it was viewed as the equivalent of a National Consensus.
The truth? Today we no longer need the Electoral College, but skewed politics and limitless corruption and greed continue to keep it in place.
The Big Question: Does this water down my vote as an American? The Answer is Yes. You bet it does. This is why voter apathy continues to grow each year, and why Americans continue to feel powerless over their government. Simply stated, the popular vote is not how a president is elected. It's all boils down to the political "pull" of the Electoral College.
Originally, electors were allowed to vote their conscience in the end. Today they are pledged to support the candidate that won in their state.
Every four years the Electoral College is "scrutinized" for deflecting the will of the populace. But nothing usually comes out of it. There are a few "supporters" of the College who claim it "maintains the delicate balance of fairly representing a broad spectrum of the nation’s interests." But ultimately that isn't true.
In conclusion... Americans do not belong to this wonderful democracy we've all been brainwashed to believe we are a part of. While it beats living in a full blown dictatorship or communist lifestyle, our system is still flawed and does not give Americans the freedom we were meant to have as a nation and a people. Even more, we are supposed to be a nation by the people for the people. That is not what we have today. We all hope it changes, but when and how remains to be seen.
